Revision: Jan. 22, 2025, 5:28 p.m.
SB 122-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0947
05/08
SENATE BILL 122-FN
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 19; Rep. Weber, Ches. 5; Rep. Nagel, Belk. 6; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of health and human services to remove asset limits and increase income thresholds for the Medicare savings program and to submit any amendment to the state Medicaid plan required for implementation.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0947
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Short Title. This act shall be known as "The Help for Low Income Seniors Act".
2 New Section; Financial Eligibility for Medicare Savings Program. Amend RSA 167 by inserting after section 4-f the following new section:
167:4-g Medicare Savings Program. The department shall administer the Medicare savings program as described in 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(E) in accordance with federal law and this section.
I. Financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program shall include:
(a) A resource disregard, thereby eliminating the resource test; and
(b) Income disregards so that a person with income that is no more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level is qualified as a qualified Medicare beneficiary and a person with income that is more than 185 percent and no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty level is qualified as a qualified individual.
II. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the Medicare savings program in accordance with the requirements of this section.
III. On or before November 1, 2025, the department of health and human services shall prepare and submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services any amendments to the state Medicaid plan necessary for implementation of the Medicare savings program, including eliminating the financial eligibility resource test and increasing the financial eligibility income limits as provided in paragraph I.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0947
1/19/25
SB 122-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department was contacted on 12/26/24 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services